CHAPTER 3

MULDER'S APARTMENT

HEGAL PLACE

ALEXANDRIA

7.20pm

Mulder sighed as he slumped back into the leather cushions of his sofa and his eyes wandered to the display on his VCR. Scully had finally set the time for him after complaining that the flashing '88:88' was driving her insane. She was late. She was never late. And she hadn't called. He was beginning to get worried, especially in light of the weird phone call.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire was playing on HBO with the volume turned down so low he could barely hear it, but then it was only on for company anyway. He turned it up and tried to watch it, but it couldn't hold his interest.

Her presence was everywhere. Her shoes by his door. Her coats on his rack. Her hairbrushes in the basket on the table. The subtle scent of her on his cushions and pillows. He closed his eyes and replayed their conversation in the office. It twisted in his gut; the expression on her face, the tone of disappointment in her voice…

Dana…

A sharp knock on the door jarred him awake. He hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep.

It had grown darker outside, but his apartment glowed from the diffused streetlight outside, making silhouettes of his lamp, computer, TV, bookshelves; accentuating the eerie glow from his fishtank. Trees scratched against the window pane.

Then the knocking again.

There seemed to be an urgency to it that tightened his stomach. It was now 8.10pm.

And Scully had a key.

What if there had been an accident? What if something had happened to her that might prevent him from helping Skinner against the supposed threat the phone-call had warned him about?

He slid back his peephole cover.

Oh, thank God.

'Hi,' she smiled when he opened the door. She pushed past him, hands full with takeaway bags. 'Sorry, couldn't reach my key. I got Chinese. Hope that's okay,' she called from the kitchen. 'I stopped at Ernie's for some beers because I knew you wouldn't have any.'

'Yeah, great,' he said, trying hard to keep the relief he felt from his voice. She would only chastise him for being paranoid. 'Where've you been? Why didn't you call?'

'I'm sorry, I know I should have. Mom called me. Bill is being reassigned to Fort Worth. She was so excited that he's coming home and she wanted to tell me right away. I haven't called her in a while, so I guess I felt a little guilty and I kept her talking for longer than I usually would have.'

'Oh, right. That's...great. I'm...pleased for him.'

'I know you two don't get along, but try and have just a touch more sincerity when you say that to him, okay?'

'He hates me, Dana.'

'He doesn't hate you. I'm just his only sister now. He doesn't want to see me hurt.'

'And he thinks I do?'

'Come on. Don't be like that. You know what I mean.'

'Look, I know everything unimaginable that has happened to you is my fault, and you can't know the guilt I feel about it without your brother pointing out every little - '

'Hey…please,' she whispered, taking his hand, 'I came here tonight because I wanted to spend some time with you. I don't want to waste any of it fighting with you over Bill.'

'Yeah, alright,' he sighed. 'I'm sorry.'

'Anyway, the other reason she called was to invite us to dinner next Thursday. Bill should be settled by then. She thought it would be nice to get us all together.'

Mulder groaned, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back against the countertop. He couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't upset her even further.

'I do understand the way you feel,' she continued, sharing out egg fried noodles, spring rolls and Szechwan pork onto plates, 'and I know that it's not going to be the best of experiences for you, but I really would appreciate you making the effort. I don't want to disappoint my mom.'

'I won't disappoint her. I like your mother.'

She spun to face him, not looking amused. 'Mulder - '

'Alright, alright. I promise to sit there and take every litte snide remark he sends my way and just smile and thank him for it, then cry about it when I get home.'

'I'll take that.'

'You know, you're not going to get this for free. I expect the favor to be returned.'

'Oh, I'm sure something can be arranged,' she said, smiling.

During dinner, Mulder slipped back into himself again, staring solemnly at his plate and pushing noodles around like they were a new species on a microscope slide. Maybe he was worried about this dinner with her brother, but she somehow doubted it. Clearly there was something on his mind, even if he wouldn't admit it, and she was sure it had to do with that phone call.

'Mulder? You're quiet tonight. Is everything okay?'

'Sure. Why wouldn't it be?'

'Like I said, you're quiet.'

He shrugged. 'I'm sorry. It's not intentional. What did you want to talk about?'

'Well…nothing in particular, I guess. What about what you've been working on while I've been away?'

'Couple of UFO sightings. Nutcases, mostly. But I enjoyed the stakeouts. Other than that, I took the opportunity to catch up on some paperwork. Nothing too exciting.'

'Nothing too exciting? That's why you couldn't answer your phone or return any of my calls?'

He sighed and put his plate down on the coffee table. 'I'm going to get another beer. You want one?'

'Yeah,' she said, suddenly not feeling very hungry at all.

He had started towards the kitchen when another knock came at the door. He looked to Scully, as though somehow it was something to do with her. Then it came again.

'I take it you're not expecting anyone,' she said.

He shook his head. The fear that had gripped him in the car lot reasserted itself, tightening a steel band across his chest.

'Well staring at the damn thing isn't going to open it, is it?' She went to the door and looked through the viewer, but couldn't see anything.

'What's wrong?' Mulder asked. Every nerve in his body was raw, crawling with electricity when he saw the concern on Scully's face.

She waved a hand to call him over and pointed silently to the viewer. Blackness. Someone was blocking it. She reached for her holster hung beneath her coat on the rack and unclipped the Glock from its leather pouch. Nodding her readiness to Mulder, she watched his hand close silently over the doorknob. As quickly as a snake strike, he yanked it open.

'You goddamned son of a bitch,' Mulder hissed, grabbing Krycek and slamming him back against the wall before he had the chance to speak. 'Want to take a shot at beating me with one arm now?' He launched an uppercut right beneath Krycek's ribs, knocking the air explosively from his lungs.

'Mulder, stop it!' Scully yelled, trying to grab his shoulders to pull him back.

He shook off her hands but did step back, trying to catch his breath that still came in angry, ragged bursts.

Krycek coughed and sputtered as he pulled himself to his feet, bracing himself against the wall.

'You…greet everyone…this way?'

'No, jackass. Just assholes who've tried to kill me.'

'Kill you? I walked away, Mulder!'

'And yet you keep on coming back like a goddamned fungal infection.'

'I didn't come here for a fight.'

'Well, I guess you got that one for free. You've got some balls showing up here again, you know that?'

'I helped you, goddammit! I told you about the plans for colonization. Gave you the locations. The key players. You owe me.'

'I owe you a bullet, and that's it.' Mulder turned and headed back into his apartment.

'So can I come in? What I have to say, you don't want the neighbors to hear.'

'After you,' said Scully, watching him.

'I am so sick of the sight of you, Krycek,' Mulder said with a heavy tiredness that arose from deep within; from years of being deceived and manipulated by this man who now had the audacity to turn up at his home yet again. 'Just say what you came to say and then get the hell out.'

'You should have more respect for the man who saved your life, you know.'

'And just how exactly did you do that, because I guess I must have amnesia or something.'

'Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass for a second, you'd remember.' He reached into his jacket for a battered silver-plated cigarette case.

'Don't even think about it,' Scully told him as she snatched the cigarette from his mouth and threw it back into his face.

'You people have no sense of social grace, do you? Sure. Okay. Fine by me. I came to tell you that Skinner is in danger.'

Jesus, thought Mulder. The phone call…

'What?'

'You heard me, Scully. You want to know why? Because of your partner. Father Torquemada over there.'

'What the hell are you talking about?'

'It's just more bullshit, Dana,' said Mulder, though his mouth had dried to sandpaper. 'The guy has a goddamned PhD in it.'

'Jesus, Mulder, you think you're so fucking superior, don't you? Think you're so far above everyone else it's a wonder you don't get nosebleeds. I'm not the one getting people killed here, you know.'

'You're the one doing the killing, last I heard.'

Krycek shook his head and sighed. 'You remember Skinner getting sick before, right?'

'Of course.'

'I infected him with the nanites. I was ordered to take him to the brink of death then bring him back. You know why, Mulder? Because of you. Because you just won't stop. Because he is stupid enough to believe that he can protect you from what will come. How does that sit in your conscience?'

Mulder's eyes clouded, his expression changing from controlled anger to one of...shame? Scully could see that Krycek had hit a nerve. Mulder really did believe he was responsible. But why? Why was he listening to someone who had been proven many times over to be a liar, a coward, and a murderer?

'Okay, that's enough,' she said. 'Get out, you evil bastard. Get out right now.'

Krycek all but ignored her, keeping the intensity of his gaze fixed on Mulder, enjoying his torment.

'That insatiable appetite for knowledge, that indefatigable search for the truth, that's all that really matters to you, isn't it? I know you, moiy droog. Better than anyone.'

'You black-hearted, twisted, malicious son of a bitch,' she spat, getting to her feet, keeping the gun on him. 'Get out or I swear I'll kill you.'

His confidence faltered. Perhaps he was unsettled by the passion of Scully's anger and the coldness in her eyes. He didn't doubt that she'd pull the trigger because he didn't have the control over her that he did with Mulder. She didn't care about what he had to say. She was far more anchored, stronger, with a smaller core of emotional pain to utilize, and was consequently harder to get to. That made her far more dangerous to him.

Particularly if she was feeling trigger-happy.

'I was instructed to infect Skinner as part of a long term program of control. And as a secondary concern, a warning. To him and to you. He was beginning to step out of line. To breach protocol he swore he would follow. Surely you must have suspected his divided loyalties by now? Agent Spender made the mistake of betraying the trust placed in him. He was eliminated. They won't hesitate to do the same to Skinner. And to me.'

'That's ridiculous,' Mulder said. 'The AD has been a thorn in my side for years. He's blocked my path, suspended me, launched investigations into our activities. This is what constitutes help in your book?'

'You can drop the feigned surprise. You don't lie very well, Mulder. This isn't the first time others have made the sacrifice for you and you know it. The men who took Scully did it to keep you down. You know that. Scully was lucky. Skinner won't be if you don't help me.'

Mulder's eyes locked with Krycek's. He was aware of Scully reluctantly lowering herself back into an armchair, but the gun stayed in her hand. Seconds passed, then a slow smile started to creep across Mulder's face.

'You want to know what I think? I think that you need something from us, but you know that we'd quite happily see your bloated corpse floating in the Potomac. So you're prepared to say just about whatever it takes. This is more like the Krycek we know, hey, Scully?'

'I'm serious, Mulder! Listen to me! The Syndicate – the people that the Smoking Man and I work for – ordered Scully's termination, the deaths of both your deep background sources and your father, then manufactured the elaborate plan to divert your attention away from colonization. They're all dead now. Everyone. They were killed by the alien rebels. They were the nameless, untraceable bodies they found at El Rico Air Base. You saw the photos. You saw the evidence for yourself. You must have thought then that you had won, but you couldn't have been more wrong. All the rebels did was delay the inevitable. The date is still set. It's just been rescheduled.'

Mulder shook his head. 'Why should I believe a word you say?'

'I didn't lie to you about the war going on, did I? I put my life in your hands when I came to give you the knowledge that saved you and allowed us all to live. The threat from the Syndicate is gone now. I'm alone. What could I possibly gain by lying to you?'

'I'm still trying to figure that out.'

'I don't have time for this! What I came here to tell you is that the Syndicate you knew might be gone, but there is a new threat. An even greater one. The group you knew was a splinter. They operated outside the Government. Just trying to save themselves. When the war started, they lost control of it all. They became acquisitive and selfish, stupidly complacent, confident that they held the upper hand. But they failed to realize that if you make a deal with the devil then you can expect him to take your soul in return. They thought they were protecting themselves. All they were doing was buying their tickets on a one-way journey. They failed to anticipate the rebels and their vehemence for victory at all costs. They are winning the war, Mulder. A war with us and the planet as the spoils. We have been backed into a corner here. We have no choice but to switch our loyalty to them if we wish to survive the apocalypse.'

''We'? Who is this 'we'? You're admitting your involvement now?'

Krycek smiled. 'Of course. They may be alien, but they understand us well enough not to trust us. The price for our promised survival was a small demonstration of our submittance and regret for the past. They want us to hand over all technology given to us by the conspirators. The Nanites. The control device. And those responsible for their theft.'

'You were responsible for what happened to Skinner?' Scully's cold anger was palpable. 'You tortured him? Do you even care about what you put him through?'

'I was a soldier. Following orders under the price of my own life. I wasn't paid to care.'

'I'm sure Skinner would be gratified to hear that,' she replied. 'You know, I can see right through you. You're not fooling me. Not for one second. You're a liar, Krycek. You're a cold-blooded, manipulative killer who wouldn't know the truth if it pointed a sawn-off shotgun in your face.'

Mulder waved her quiet, a move that infuriated her so much that she was stunned into silence.

'Aren't they worried that their plans are exposed now?'

'Damage limitation has been in operation since the death of the Syndicate. What does anyone really know? What proof is there? That's why they aren't worried about you. They know you have nothing other than a few crime scene photos that prove nothing. There are plenty of people with stories out there, but that's all they are. People are notoriously unreliable. Memory fallible and open to interpretation.'

'So why don't you just give them what they want and apologize for the...misunderstanding?'

'Yeah,' he laughed. 'Buy them a box of candy and a card from the kiss-ass aisle at Hallmark. They want me dead, Mulder. Skinner, too. If we can figure out a way to get those things out of his blood, they'll have no reason to come after us anymore.'

'But you said they want you dead. Nothing will stop them if that's all that will satisfy them. And to be honest with you, I don't see why I should risk my life protecting yours. Thanks for the info about Skinner though. Scully and I will look into it. Now, you've said what you came to say. So get the hell out of my apartment.'

'Hold up there a second. I have one or two more pieces of information you might be interested in. I know where your sister is.'

'Oh, good God,' exclaimed Scully, 'that's it. I cannot believe that I'm listening to this. Furthermore, Mulder, I can't believe you are listening to it.'

She stood and went over to the window to distance herself from the source of her anger because she knew Krycek was feeding on it like a leech.

'They still have her, Mulder. They always have.'

'You really expect me to believe that? I saw my sister last year. The Smoking Man brought her to me.'

'She was just a clone. No different to those you saw in Canada, or the one killed by the Bounty Hunter. You believed it because he wanted you to believe it. You haven't seen your sister since she was a kid, how could you possibly be sure it was her? But I have seen her, Mulder. And she's closer than you could ever have imagined.'

From her distanced position, Scully turned to Krycek almost open-mouthed. She watched in horror as Mulder's eyes darkened with years of pain and guilt.

'You've seen her? You have proof of this?' The question was voiced with such child-like naivety that it made Scully want to scream at him.

'Mulder,' she tried, but Krycek's voice seemed to be having an almost hypnotic effect on him. He didn't even seem aware that she still existed. 'Please don't listen to him.'

'She asks about you. She misses you, but understands that the part she has played in helping us fight the oncoming plague far outweighed any personal cost. I can tell you where she is. Talk to her, and I guarantee you'll have all the proof you need.'

'I…I don't believe you.'

'The…tests…they were hard on her to begin with. But she came to understand how important they were. What's left of the Syndicate still has her.'

Mulder broke his stare, his gaze falling to the tabletop, seeing visions of the past; his past. He saw flashes of his mother, his father, heated fights, broken dishes, smashed furniture, Spender, the Summerhouse, strobing, strange lights, smoke, shadowy figures in the dark…

Why had she been taken and not him?

'No. No,' he said, his mind losing the fight against his heart, 'I don't believe you. You're trying to manipulate me and it won't work.'

'You still don't get it, do you? They are going to kill me, Mulder! I have nothing left to lose, so I have no reason to keep anything from you. If I die, any hope you have of seeing your sister again dies with me.'

'I don't give a rat's ass what happens to you, Krycek. And I don't believe you know anything about my sister, but I do know that you killed my father. So go tell whoever sent you that I'm not so easy to get around anymore. Go to hell, Alex.'

'I didn't kill your father! I was there, I admit it. I admit I did nothing to stop it, but it wasn't me who pulled the trigger. Your father signed his own death warrant with the choices he made years ago. I am a soldier fighting a war, Mulder! I am fighting for what I believe in; a war against the colonizers who threaten the lives of everyone on this planet! I do what needs to be done. What men like you are too gutless to do.'

If Krycek was lying, he was pulling off a better job than usual, thought Mulder. He may even have given him a few more minutes had he not detected a slight, but obvious, glint of victory in Krycek's eyes.

Mulder stood up, strolled across to him, then shot out his hand, grabbing Krycek's throat and pushing him back toward the door. 'I thought Scully told you to get out.'

'I'll…kill…him, Mulder,' he choked, scrabbling at Mulder's hands. 'I…still have…device. One…button…he…dies.' Mulder's grip loosened and he let him go. Krycek dropped to the floor. 'I'm a reasonable man,' he coughed, pulling himself to his feet. 'I understand that you don't need any more blood on your hands. I don't want to kill him. But if you push me into a choice between him or me, it's going to be me.'

Mulder couldn't help himself. His fist flew again, catching Krycek squarely on the jaw and sending him reeling backwards over his dining table. He rolled off and into the chairs before falling in an undignified heap on the floor. Mulder came around the table, flipped him over onto his back with a sharp kick to the ribs, then planted his foot against Krycek's throat. His face flushed and his eyes grew large as he frantically scratched at Mulder's ankles.

'Listen up, you son of a bitch. If Skinner so much as sneezes, you'll be sucking food through a straw and wearing diapers for the rest of your life. Do you understand what I'm saying to you? Give it to me.'

'Give...you...what?'

'The device, the computer, whatever the hell it is.'

'It's...in...my...pocket,' Krycek gurgled as he fought for breath and his eyes started watering. His hand went towards his jacket, but Scully caught the movement and dropped to her knees, grabbed his wrist, and held him back.

'I don't think so,' she said. She opened his jacket and took the small metal case from his inside pocket.

'What is it?' Mulder asked her.

'I don't know.' Her brow furrowed as she turned the object over in her hands, looking for the catch to open it. It was about the size of a pocket organizer, but a little thicker and heavier, constructed of a silver, tempered type of metal that was unlike anything she'd ever seen. She eventually popped it open by sliding her fingernail into the ridge along the side. It looked like a palmtop computer, except the readouts on the screen were strange – unrecognizable symbols and shapes. There was no keypad. Just a metal stylus that was used with the touch screen.

'Don't...touch...anything. You...don't...understand...it.'

'How does this work, Krycek?'

'If...you...tell…this...psycho...to...get...his...foot...off...my... throat…'

Scully nodded, and Mulder stood back, allowing Krycek to pull himself up onto one of the chairs. He leaned forward onto the table, coughing, still struggling for breath.

'Well?' Scully prompted.

'It's a transmitting computer. Kind of a remote control. It sends signals to the receivers in the Nanites. It tells them to multiply or desist. To repair themselves or enter a dormant phase. To kill or to save. At the moment, they are dormant. That's what the display there is saying.'

'This is Navajo, Krycek. Which means that this is about as alien as I am,' she said, handing the device to Mulder.

'The device is alien, Scully. The language is ancient. Way before the Navajos started using it.'

Mulder gazed at it, his interest piqued, but Scully's reservations were still a considerable force exerting their influence over him. 'Where did you get this?'

'The Syndicate. Cancer Man.'

As he looked at it, a shiver of anticipation and excitement ran up his spine. This was the first thing Krycek had given him that came anywhere near proof of what he was telling them. The language on the computer was indeed Navajo. The same language used to encrypt the MJ-12 documents on the DAT tape he'd almost been killed for; that The Thinker had died to bring to him.

'Why would anyone design this to use Navajo?'

'Because it is the language of the ancients. Of the aliens. No-one designed it. Like I told you, the technology is alien and extremely valuable which is why they want it back so badly.'

'If this is capable of taking Skinner out of remission, then why don't I just destroy it right now and let them come for you?'

'Because that won't get the nanites out of his system. They want those just as much as this.'

'I'm still not seeing why we need you.'

Krycek sighed and rubbed his eyes. 'I guess the truth is that maybe there's a chance you don't. But I'm desperate, Mulder. I have information and the ability to use that device, and I thought that might just be enough to buy me some help. Because I've been hiding from them for nearly two years. Because I don't sleep. Because I barely eat. Because I'm tired. Because I am just so fucking tired. Because they're going to catch up to me sooner or later and the things they'd do to me make a bullet in the head seem pretty preferable.' His eyes flickered to the window before settling back on Mulder. 'If you destroy that machine, then you destroy my last hope and I become a man with absolutely nothing to lose. That makes me a very dangerous enemy. To begin with, the OPR will get some information about the out-of-hours investigations that have been taking place between two bureau agents not a million miles from here. I have photographs. The latest ones taken in the bureau car lot today.'

Panic and fear flashed in Mulder's eyes for a split second as the memory of the car lot snapped across his mind. He had known someone was there. He'd felt their presence like a phantom spider's web enveloping his body, tickling and prickling along his neck. Now he knew why.

Krycek picked up on the momentary lapse in Mulder's defense and congratulated himself that his gamble had paid off. No matter what Mulder might say now to the contrary, he knew that he believed Krycek had evidence. He'd tried threats to Skinner, promises of his sister, but in the end the most powerful tool had been the threat of discovery of their relationship. Not because he was afraid of people knowing, but because he knew it would likely cost him his career; it would certainly cost him the X-Files. And, by extension, his ability to carry on his work which Krycek knew meant more to him than anything.

'That all you have, Krycek? I doubt anyone would be that interested,' said Scully. 'What we do on our own time is our business.'

'Maybe. But what about the shared hotel rooms that the bureau footed the bill for? The wasted time at the office. Not to mention the conflict of interests. And with the track record you two have? You think they need much more of a reason to throw you out on your ass?'

Mulder laughed, but there was no humor there. It was more the bitter sound of futility as he pulled out a chair and slid into it. He rubbed his face and sighed, propping his head up with his hand.

'You're absolutely unbelievable, you know that?'

'Without me, Mulder, Skinner will die. Without me, the knowledge of the coming apocalypse is lost to you. You'll die. Scully will die. Everyone you've ever cared about will die, including your sister. Is that really what you want?'

'I've told you that I don't believe you, Krycek. You're full of bullshit, you always were.'

'I'm not lying to you! For God's sake, why do you think I'd come here and risk everything when I've managed to evade them for two years already? Because it's happening, Mulder! I've run out of time! And so will you soon if you don't listen to me!'

Mulder sighed again and glanced at Scully. The expression on her face made her feelings plain. He should throw Krycek out on his ass, he knew that. But the phone call…and now Krycek turning up here…could he really take the chance? He looked back at him and realised that Krycek did look thinner than he used to be. His skin was darkened and textured as though he'd spent too long outside, and there were new lines around his eyes that hadn't been there before. It was a lot of work to go through just to prove a lie. Was it possible that he really was telling the truth this time?

'Look, Mulder, I'm offering you a good deal here. You get Skinner alive, your sister back, everything you've ever wanted. All I'm asking for is your help.'

'Alright,' Mulder sighed, pinching at the bridge of his nose and trying not to look at Scully. 'What do you want us to do?'

'Mulder, come on! What the hell is wrong with you?' Scully pleaded. 'I can't believe you're listening to him!'

He looked at her with an ancient, incomprehensible pain. The vulnerability she sensed in him brought her close to tears.

'I'm sorry, Dana. I have no choice.'

'Fine. Then you can live with the consequences alone.'

She holstered her gun and grabbed her coat from the rack.

'Dana, come on, please. Wait.'

He went after her, but she slammed the door before he could say anymore. He leaned miserably against it.

'Well. That was inevitable. Back to the video collection, then?'

'You,' he spat, 'can shut the hell up if you want me to help you. That's the last wisecrack I want to hear coming from your poisonous goddamned mouth.'

He shrugged, raised an eyebrow, but decided not to press his luck.

'What exactly is it you think I can do for you anyway?'

'You need to warn Skinner. They'll most likely try to abduct him first to retrieve the nanites. Removing them takes time. He won't survive the process.'

The same warning as Marita's. Maybe if he had told Scully about that phone-call, she would have understood his giving in. Maybe she wouldn't have left thinking that he was such a selfish, naïve asshole.

'A moment ago you were threatening to kill him yourself.'

'Yeah, well. Needs must. But there is a way out of this where no-one has to die. If we can figure out how to destroy those things, we can give back the controller and tell them the nanites are gone. They may want proof, but a blood sample should suffice.'

'And what about you? They want you dead.'

'A man can fake his own death, Mulder. If they have their technology back, they won't care so much about Skinner or me. They have bigger things to worry about. But we are going to need Scully's expertise. She's studied these things before. So, looks like you have some making up to do, moiy droog.'

'I am not your damn friend, Krycek. And don't worry about Scully. She has a conscience, unlike you. She'll be here – for Skinner's sake.'

'Good. Glad you have faith in her. Let's hope it's not as misplaced as mine was in you.'

Mulder needed some space. He went out to the kitchen and stood at his sideboard, silently taking in the remnants of their meal as his heart seemed to shrivel and die in his chest.

He shouldn't have let her go so easily. But she should have understood that any chance to find his sister, no matter how unlikely, had to be taken. He could never have lived with himself otherwise. If she loved him as much as she said she did, she should understand why he couldn't pass this by, especially not in light of the warning from Marita that, however incredible, did lend substance to Krycek's claims. Whether or not that danger actually came from him too remained to be seen.

'I was beginning to think you'd gone on the lam, Mulder.'

He was aware of Krycek silhouetted in the pale light from his desk lamp, leaning against his kitchen doorframe. Mulder said nothing.

'You shouldn't beat yourself up over it, you know. Women weaken you. Distract you from your purpose. Ruin your life. You should get rid of her now while you still can.'

'If I wanted relationship advice, I'd talk to my fish before I talked to you.'

Krycek smirked. 'Whatever. Look, that thing emits some kind of traceable signal when it's opened. Pretty soon they're going to figure out I'm here, so we don't have time to lament your inability to form relationships.'

Mulder wasn't about to enter into any further conversation with Krycek on the matter. He turned away from him and started to clear up. 'I'm going to change first. Then you can head to Skinner's while I go get Scully. And I'm keeping the controller.'

'Are you crazy? I'm not going over there alone. He'll kill me.'

'Guess that's a risk you'll have to take.'

'And what assurances do I have that you won't just take the controller and leave me there like someone's bad date?'

'You don't,' he said as he pushed past him.

Mulder emerged a couple of minutes later in a gray t-shirt under a black v-neck sweater, jeans and desert boots, then grabbed his leather jacket from the closet.

Krycek was hovering by the window, parting the blinds and glancing down at the street.

'You ready?'

'Yeah. Don't take all night about this, Mulder. We don't have much time. There's a car down there that has circled the block four times now. I think they know I'm here.'

'I'll be as long as it takes. You told me you need Scully, so you'll have to wait. And I'm warning you, Krycek, I'm watching you. I so much as smell a rat, you're not going to be walking away this time.'

'Take a ticket and get in line,' he muttered to himself as he followed Mulder down the hall.